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Russian Railroads

Russian Railroads

Hans im Glück · 2013
2–4120 min13+ yrs3.4/5 complexity7.7 BGG#152 BGG17 KStrategy
short answer

How do you play Russian Railroads?

The primary objective in Russian Railroads is to accumulate the highest number of victory points by the end of the game. Players achieve this by efficiently managing their resources, expanding their railway network across Russia, advancing their industrial capabilities, and strategically hiring engineers who provide powerful end-game scoring opportunities.

To find the best price for Russian Railroads, howtoplay.ro compares deals from Romanian shops every day.

Russian Railroads box art
official art · Hans im Glück
the rules in 60 seconds▶ auto · 1/6
🧩
01

Setup

Players receive a personal board, starting workers, and rubles. The main board is set up with action spaces, locomotive tracks, and industry tracks.

The rules, step by step

Setup
Each player starts with a personal player board, a set of workers (meeple), and some starting rubles. The main game board is prepared with various action spaces, three main railway tracks (Trans-Siberian, St. Petersburg, and Kiev), and industry tracks. Locomotive tiles and industry tiles are shuffled and placed in their designated areas, and engineer cards are also prepared.
Objective
The primary objective in Russian Railroads is to accumulate the highest number of victory points by the end of the game. Players achieve this by efficiently managing their resources, expanding their railway network across Russia, advancing their industrial capabilities, and strategically hiring engineers who provide powerful end-game scoring opportunities.
On your turn
A game turn consists of players taking turns placing their workers on available action spaces on the main board. Each action space allows for specific actions such as laying new track segments (black, grey, brown, beige, or white), upgrading locomotives to increase their movement capacity, advancing on the industry track to gain bonuses, or hiring engineers. Some actions require a certain number of workers or rubles, and some spaces offer unique benefits or allow for multiple placements.
Scoring
Scoring occurs at the end of each of the 7 rounds, and a final scoring phase takes place at the end of the game. During round scoring, players earn points based on the quality and length of their railway tracks, provided their locomotives have reached the corresponding track segments. Industry tracks also provide points based on their advancement. In the final scoring, additional points are awarded for engineers, remaining resources, and other end-game bonuses.
Game end
The game concludes after exactly 7 rounds. Once the final round's actions and scoring are completed, a comprehensive final scoring takes place. This includes points for the longest tracks, the highest industry levels, engineer bonuses, and any remaining resources. The player with the most victory points at this stage is declared the winner.
Tips
To succeed in Russian Railroads, it's crucial to develop a balanced strategy. Don't neglect any single aspect of the game. Prioritize upgrading your locomotives to unlock higher-value track segments. Efficiently manage your workers to secure key action spaces, especially those that grant first-player advantage. Strategically invest in industry to gain consistent points and bonuses, and carefully select engineers whose end-game scoring conditions align with your overall strategy.
game anatomy
Complexity3.4 / 5
BGG rating7.7 / 10
Vibe
Strategy
Language dependence
No in-game text needed
🌐 plays without English
Play time
120 min
Players
2–4
Recommended age
13+ yrs
BGG rank
#152
from Trișache · verified

Frequently asked questions

Q1What is the goal of the game?
The primary objective in Russian Railroads is to accumulate the highest number of victory points by the end of the game. Players achieve this by efficiently managing their resources, expanding their railway network across Russia, advancing their industrial capabilities, and strategically hiring engineers who provide powerful end-game scoring opportunities.
Q2How do you set up the game?
Each player starts with a personal player board, a set of workers (meeple), and some starting rubles. The main game board is prepared with various action spaces, three main railway tracks (Trans-Siberian, St. Petersburg, and Kiev), and industry tracks. Locomotive tiles and industry tiles are shuffled and placed in their designated areas, and engineer cards are also prepared.
Q3How does a turn work?
A game turn consists of players taking turns placing their workers on available action spaces on the main board. Each action space allows for specific actions such as laying new track segments (black, grey, brown, beige, or white), upgrading locomotives to increase their movement capacity, advancing on the industry track to gain bonuses, or hiring engineers. Some actions require a certain number of workers or rubles, and some spaces offer unique benefits or allow for multiple placements.
Q4How is scoring calculated?
Scoring occurs at the end of each of the 7 rounds, and a final scoring phase takes place at the end of the game. During round scoring, players earn points based on the quality and length of their railway tracks, provided their locomotives have reached the corresponding track segments. Industry tracks also provide points based on their advancement. In the final scoring, additional points are awarded for engineers, remaining resources, and other end-game bonuses.
Q5When and how does the game end?
The game concludes after exactly 7 rounds. Once the final round's actions and scoring are completed, a comprehensive final scoring takes place. This includes points for the longest tracks, the highest industry levels, engineer bonuses, and any remaining resources. The player with the most victory points at this stage is declared the winner.
Q6What tips are there for beginners?
To succeed in Russian Railroads, it's crucial to develop a balanced strategy. Don't neglect any single aspect of the game. Prioritize upgrading your locomotives to unlock higher-value track segments. Efficiently manage your workers to secure key action spaces, especially those that grant first-player advantage. Strategically invest in industry to gain consistent points and bonuses, and carefully select engineers whose end-game scoring conditions align with your overall strategy.
Q7How much does Russian Railroads cost?
No store is currently tracking Russian Railroads. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q8Where can I buy Russian Railroads cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q9How do you play Russian Railroads?
Russian Railroads is a industry / manufacturing game, for 2–4 players, taking ~120 minutes, featuring end game bonuses. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Russian Railroads — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q10How many players does Russian Railroads support?
Russian Railroads is played by 2–4 players.
1 shop

All prices

1 shop · sorted by priceupdated today
Regatul JocurilorEnglish editioneasyboxCultural voucher
Russian Railroads (English Edition)
RON 224
Buyout of stock
Regatul JocurilorGerman editioneasyboxCultural voucher
Russian Railroads (German Edition)
RON 269
Buyout of stock
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Second-hand · from €28 · 1 listing

Currently unavailable in all shops

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Price trend over the last 90 days: minimum 150 lei, maximum 224 lei, now 150 lei.

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